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After a rough tumble and maybe-serious head injury, a disillusioned trans poet falls for a charming corporate lawyer in a love story that grapples with the explosive ghosts of relationships past, romantic and familial, from the Lambda Award-nominated author of Bellies, Nicola Dinan
“Fell down the stairs and woke up a trad wife.”
Max is thirty, a published poet and grossly overpaid legal counsel for a tech company. With a lifetime of dysphoria and fuccbois rattling around in her head, Max is plagued with a deep dissatisfaction during what should be the best years of her life. After taking a spill down the stairs at a New Year’s Eve party, she decides to make some changes. First things first: a stab at good old-fashioned heteronormativity.
Max thinks she’s found the answer in Vincent, a corporate lawyer and hobby baker, whose trad friendship group may as well speak a foreign language, and whose Chinese parents never pictured their son dating a trans woman. This uncharted territory may have rough terrain, but Vincent cares for Max in a way she’d long given up on as a foolish fantasy.
Yet Vincent is carrying his own baggage from his gap year in Thailand a decade prior: an explosive entanglement with a mysterious, gorgeous traveler. Voice-driven, warm, and poignant, Disappoint Me is an exploration of millennial angst, race, trans panic, and the allure of bourgeois domesticity that asks if we are defined by our worst mistakes.
“Fell down the stairs and woke up a trad wife.”
Max is thirty, a published poet and grossly overpaid legal counsel for a tech company. With a lifetime of dysphoria and fuccbois rattling around in her head, Max is plagued with a deep dissatisfaction during what should be the best years of her life. After taking a spill down the stairs at a New Year’s Eve party, she decides to make some changes. First things first: a stab at good old-fashioned heteronormativity.
Max thinks she’s found the answer in Vincent, a corporate lawyer and hobby baker, whose trad friendship group may as well speak a foreign language, and whose Chinese parents never pictured their son dating a trans woman. This uncharted territory may have rough terrain, but Vincent cares for Max in a way she’d long given up on as a foolish fantasy.
Yet Vincent is carrying his own baggage from his gap year in Thailand a decade prior: an explosive entanglement with a mysterious, gorgeous traveler. Voice-driven, warm, and poignant, Disappoint Me is an exploration of millennial angst, race, trans panic, and the allure of bourgeois domesticity that asks if we are defined by our worst mistakes.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 23, 2025
About the author
Nicola Dinan
3 books216 followersNicola Dinan grew up in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur and now lives in London. She studied Natural Sciences at Cambridge University before training as a lawyer. Bellies, her debut, was shortlisted for the Mo Siewcharran prize.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
November 30, 2024
Update: ARC SECURED
new lit fic novel by Bellies author Nicola Dinan WHO'S WITH ME?!
new lit fic novel by Bellies author Nicola Dinan WHO'S WITH ME?!
December 19, 2024
4.5
At least Disappoint Me didn't make me cry. It was, however, just as beautifully written as Bellies.
Disappoint Me tells us the story of Max, a trans woman and her boyfriend, Vincent - a man with secrets.
The dual timeline follows Max and Vincent's relationship but also Vincent's past during his gap year.
It is a simple story but it is beautifully told and the richness of the storytelling sets it above other novels.
This is a very different novel to Bellies exploring, as it does, relationships between families, romantic ones between men and trans women, forgiveness and acceptance, understanding that we all make mistakes and being able to admit our faults.
I loved Bellies and I loved Disappoint Me. I look forward to Nicola Dinan's next novel.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the advance review copy.
At least Disappoint Me didn't make me cry. It was, however, just as beautifully written as Bellies.
Disappoint Me tells us the story of Max, a trans woman and her boyfriend, Vincent - a man with secrets.
The dual timeline follows Max and Vincent's relationship but also Vincent's past during his gap year.
It is a simple story but it is beautifully told and the richness of the storytelling sets it above other novels.
This is a very different novel to Bellies exploring, as it does, relationships between families, romantic ones between men and trans women, forgiveness and acceptance, understanding that we all make mistakes and being able to admit our faults.
I loved Bellies and I loved Disappoint Me. I look forward to Nicola Dinan's next novel.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the advance review copy.
November 12, 2024
I enjoyed the dual narrative; it really helped me connect to the story seeing the mindsets of Max and Vincent. Nicola Dinan did a beautiful job of addressing modern relationships, identity, and forgiveness. Max was so complex, I felt that I was there, seeing everything she had to overcome. This is well written but quite forgettable, which is a personal opinion because I've read a lot of books with this similar plot that have affected me more deeply. This book is just not one I would read again. I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 25, 2025
4.25
Told through dual perspectives, Disappoint Me, is a poignant novel that explores the idea of coming to terms with the mistakes that those you love most make and the complexities of choosing to forgive them.
Max is a 30-year-old transwoman who while recovering from a break-up, working as a lawyer for a tech firm where she doesn’t even get to sign off emails with her own name, and following an unfortunate incident at a New Year’s Eve party decides it’s time to change her life and “get serious” about building the sort of life she thinks she should be living at her age. Enter Vincent, a corporate lawyer of Chinese heritage that she meets on a dating app, who seems to be an answered prayer for Max, but whose past contains a life-changing event that casts a shadow over their future together.
I thought every single character (down to the side characters that make a one-off appearance) in this book was so well-developed. Dinan writes with such depth, and it’s all told through the main characters’ voices which are filled with humour and vulnerability. I enjoyed both perspectives equally which is a rarity for me when reading dual POV books.
The large themes of the book – identity, forgiveness, complex modern relationships, and the weight of past mistakes are heavy, yet the author managed to balance them and create a narrative that was engrossing and hard to put down.
This is a character-driven novel done INCREDIBLY well and I will be forcing everyone around me to read this.
Thank you to the team at Transworld Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC.
Told through dual perspectives, Disappoint Me, is a poignant novel that explores the idea of coming to terms with the mistakes that those you love most make and the complexities of choosing to forgive them.
Max is a 30-year-old transwoman who while recovering from a break-up, working as a lawyer for a tech firm where she doesn’t even get to sign off emails with her own name, and following an unfortunate incident at a New Year’s Eve party decides it’s time to change her life and “get serious” about building the sort of life she thinks she should be living at her age. Enter Vincent, a corporate lawyer of Chinese heritage that she meets on a dating app, who seems to be an answered prayer for Max, but whose past contains a life-changing event that casts a shadow over their future together.
I thought every single character (down to the side characters that make a one-off appearance) in this book was so well-developed. Dinan writes with such depth, and it’s all told through the main characters’ voices which are filled with humour and vulnerability. I enjoyed both perspectives equally which is a rarity for me when reading dual POV books.
The large themes of the book – identity, forgiveness, complex modern relationships, and the weight of past mistakes are heavy, yet the author managed to balance them and create a narrative that was engrossing and hard to put down.
This is a character-driven novel done INCREDIBLY well and I will be forcing everyone around me to read this.
Thank you to the team at Transworld Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC.
November 21, 2024
nicola dinan’s ability to make me cry my eyes out in the final ten pages of a book must be studied
January 4, 2025
Dinan has triumphed again with her second novel. I loved Bellies and so was expecting great things from this. Although it took me a while to get into this one, once I was settled into the structure and knew the characters I absolutely loved it.
The book is told from two perspectives: Max and Vincent. The two of them meet at the start of the novel and strike up a relationship. Max’s story follows her as she navigates the new relationship as a trans woman and deals with some traumatic health issues, and Vincent’s story is almost like a flashback to his time in Thailand with a friend which goes horribly wrong after they both hook up with the same girl.
Once this novel got going it really grips you. Dinan is so good at writing deep, emotional scenes which you can tear your eyes away from. I love how her books are still about being trans, but they are more about friendship, betrayal and growth. The friendship group wasn’t as strong as the one in Bellies but the two main characters in this one really made it for me, and I thought it was amazing. I definitely recommend if you like books about messy friendship groups but which will have a big emotional impact on you.
The book is told from two perspectives: Max and Vincent. The two of them meet at the start of the novel and strike up a relationship. Max’s story follows her as she navigates the new relationship as a trans woman and deals with some traumatic health issues, and Vincent’s story is almost like a flashback to his time in Thailand with a friend which goes horribly wrong after they both hook up with the same girl.
Once this novel got going it really grips you. Dinan is so good at writing deep, emotional scenes which you can tear your eyes away from. I love how her books are still about being trans, but they are more about friendship, betrayal and growth. The friendship group wasn’t as strong as the one in Bellies but the two main characters in this one really made it for me, and I thought it was amazing. I definitely recommend if you like books about messy friendship groups but which will have a big emotional impact on you.
September 20, 2024
totally magnificent
January 24, 2025
This was just really...perfect. I'm sad to leave these characters and their lives and the introspection they have brought out of me.
Happy publication day!!!
Happy publication day!!!
January 23, 2025
Thanks to PRH UK for the e-ARC!
Nicola Dinan’s second novel is anything but a disappointment!
After loving Dinan’s beautifully tender debut Bellies, I was so keen to get my hands on Disappoint Me. Following a slightly older set of characters (both narrators are in their early 30s), Disappoint Me tackles the isolation and self-doubt that comes when your friends’ paths begin to splinter as each person settles into their adult life.
It took me a few chapters to get used to being in Max’s head – she’s more abrasive than the protagonists in Bellies, and more sure of herself than our other narrative voice (her love interest, Vincent, at 19). But after a few chapters, I was completely sold on her. One of the aspects of humanity that Dinan’s is brilliant at capturing is the ups and downs of vulnerability – the terror of letting your guard down, the sublime reward of someone seeing and accepting you as you are – and this is something we see Max and Vincent struggle with in both timelines. Without giving away a spoiler, we sense right away that Vincent is struggling to disclose his full history to Max in the present; and we see so many instances of Max being invalidated even by people who profess to care about her. Arguably, a fascinating thing that Dinan captures in both characters is that vulnerability isn’t only frightening when it comes to being vulnerable with others, but also with yourself. Max and Vincent struggle to face themselves in so many ways, from their most shameful flaws to their most precious ambitions, and it is this that humanises them so effectively to me.
Dinan’s writing at the sentence level is, as with Bellies, wonderful. She is realistic without being overly bogged down in the details, and in a few strokes of her pen, captures the various settings the characters find themselves in, from Thailand to rural France. Characters speak to each other with verve and wit, but they sound true to themselves and to their real-life counterparts, the mass of adults trying to make it work in London while feeling perpetually behind their peers. The nuances of friendship, and specifically the fallout of when friends fail to live up to the people we believe and hope they are, are also captured so thoughtfully here – in fact, I wish Dinan had expanded on this more. Both Max and Vincent’s friends act in problematic ways, and arguably you could make whole novels out of the blemishes on their characters. I’d read them, anyway.
I did conclude that I slightly prefer Bellies, mainly due to structure. While this was really hard to put down once it got going, it takes a while to establish the direction of the story and really settle into the characters (particularly Max, as I mention earlier in this review). A lot happens very quickly, and a large cast is introduced from the very start. Because of this, the first fifth didn’t land for me as much as the rest, but the payoff is absolutely worth it.
If you’re a fan of Dinan’s, you’re right to be anticipating this one. And if you weren’t fully sold on Bellies, I think this is different enough that you could give it a go and be very pleasantly surprised indeed!
Nicola Dinan’s second novel is anything but a disappointment!
After loving Dinan’s beautifully tender debut Bellies, I was so keen to get my hands on Disappoint Me. Following a slightly older set of characters (both narrators are in their early 30s), Disappoint Me tackles the isolation and self-doubt that comes when your friends’ paths begin to splinter as each person settles into their adult life.
It took me a few chapters to get used to being in Max’s head – she’s more abrasive than the protagonists in Bellies, and more sure of herself than our other narrative voice (her love interest, Vincent, at 19). But after a few chapters, I was completely sold on her. One of the aspects of humanity that Dinan’s is brilliant at capturing is the ups and downs of vulnerability – the terror of letting your guard down, the sublime reward of someone seeing and accepting you as you are – and this is something we see Max and Vincent struggle with in both timelines. Without giving away a spoiler, we sense right away that Vincent is struggling to disclose his full history to Max in the present; and we see so many instances of Max being invalidated even by people who profess to care about her. Arguably, a fascinating thing that Dinan captures in both characters is that vulnerability isn’t only frightening when it comes to being vulnerable with others, but also with yourself. Max and Vincent struggle to face themselves in so many ways, from their most shameful flaws to their most precious ambitions, and it is this that humanises them so effectively to me.
Dinan’s writing at the sentence level is, as with Bellies, wonderful. She is realistic without being overly bogged down in the details, and in a few strokes of her pen, captures the various settings the characters find themselves in, from Thailand to rural France. Characters speak to each other with verve and wit, but they sound true to themselves and to their real-life counterparts, the mass of adults trying to make it work in London while feeling perpetually behind their peers. The nuances of friendship, and specifically the fallout of when friends fail to live up to the people we believe and hope they are, are also captured so thoughtfully here – in fact, I wish Dinan had expanded on this more. Both Max and Vincent’s friends act in problematic ways, and arguably you could make whole novels out of the blemishes on their characters. I’d read them, anyway.
I did conclude that I slightly prefer Bellies, mainly due to structure. While this was really hard to put down once it got going, it takes a while to establish the direction of the story and really settle into the characters (particularly Max, as I mention earlier in this review). A lot happens very quickly, and a large cast is introduced from the very start. Because of this, the first fifth didn’t land for me as much as the rest, but the payoff is absolutely worth it.
If you’re a fan of Dinan’s, you’re right to be anticipating this one. And if you weren’t fully sold on Bellies, I think this is different enough that you could give it a go and be very pleasantly surprised indeed!
November 27, 2024
Thank you to the publishers for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
Nicola Dinan is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. I loved Bellies last year, and her upcoming new release Disappoint Me certainly did not disappoint me at all (pun intended). Dinan is superbly talented at storytelling and creating a really powerful, emotional, and important novel. This book tackles similar issues to those in Bellies, but it doesn’t feel repetitive in the slightest. The characters are really well developed and feel very real, and I was emotionally connected to the story throughout. Can’t wait for everyone to read this one!
Nicola Dinan is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. I loved Bellies last year, and her upcoming new release Disappoint Me certainly did not disappoint me at all (pun intended). Dinan is superbly talented at storytelling and creating a really powerful, emotional, and important novel. This book tackles similar issues to those in Bellies, but it doesn’t feel repetitive in the slightest. The characters are really well developed and feel very real, and I was emotionally connected to the story throughout. Can’t wait for everyone to read this one!
December 7, 2024
Oh, this one was delicious!
2025 will be an unmatched year for books, I fear.
Thank you NetGalley and Nicola Dinan for the ARC.
2025 will be an unmatched year for books, I fear.
Thank you NetGalley and Nicola Dinan for the ARC.
December 11, 2024
A haunting, sad yet funny Literary Fiction commentary and character study in an experience of being a Transgender millennial navigating the modern landscape. Max is a 30 year old lawyer and poet, flirting with sobriety and in a new relationship with Vincent. Her brother, who can't commit to a relationship, is going to start a family and be a co-parent. She has a good community and friends, but constantly worries about being forgotten and being out-of-place. Of not being self-aware to her own destruction.
This is a painfully constructed novel, helped create a sense of empathy to those of us who benefit from heteronormativity in our complicated world. There are characters across a gender and sexuality spectrum, with a powerful community but similar insecurities that all of us have on a daily basis. This book is descriptive and smart, not one that I would read over and over again, but that gave me an insight into someone else's experience.
The POV is mostly Max but also changes to her boyfriend Vincent, with a very engaging thread that alternate in London and Bangkok. A somber yet hopeful story about the messiness of life and love.
Thaks to @netgalley and @thedialpress for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#booksbooksbooks #booktok #bookstagram #arcreader #bookreview #bookrecommendations #disappointme
This is a painfully constructed novel, helped create a sense of empathy to those of us who benefit from heteronormativity in our complicated world. There are characters across a gender and sexuality spectrum, with a powerful community but similar insecurities that all of us have on a daily basis. This book is descriptive and smart, not one that I would read over and over again, but that gave me an insight into someone else's experience.
The POV is mostly Max but also changes to her boyfriend Vincent, with a very engaging thread that alternate in London and Bangkok. A somber yet hopeful story about the messiness of life and love.
Thaks to @netgalley and @thedialpress for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#booksbooksbooks #booktok #bookstagram #arcreader #bookreview #bookrecommendations #disappointme
January 14, 2025
So it was always unlikely that Nicola Dinan's sophomore novel would top her debut,
Bellies,
for me, and at least part of that is because the skill, intelligence and freshness of her writing is inevitably less surprising second time around. But Disappoint Me is still absolutely worth reading, and I yomped through it in a few days. Max is a British-Chinese trans woman, Vincent a British-Chinese straight man. He's not the kind of guy she's dated before, with his corporate job and worryingly heteronormative circle of friends, but could their relationship work? Disappoint Me skips forward about ten years from Bellies, considering the compromises made by people in their early thirties rather than the uncertainties of people in their early twenties. It feels appropriate that it's both colder and wittier, and Max gets all the best lines ('If this is trans rights, I will do some trans wrongs'.) I missed the more expansive, complex cast of Bellies, but Vincent is a fascinatingly difficult character, as is Max's best friend, lesbian Simone, who has her own troubled relationship with gender that's brought to a head when she's forced to wear a bridesmaid's dress for a friend's wedding: 'It's not like I'm trans... I almost feel if I was trans I could justify not wearing that dress.' Thematically, Dinan continues to avoid simplistic takes on identity politics, and indeed attacks some kinds of social media activism as she considers how far we can and should forgive others, both for the things they have done in the past and the mistakes they make now.
I received a free proof copy of this novel from the publisher for review.
I received a free proof copy of this novel from the publisher for review.
September 23, 2024
For me, Disappoint me was all the positive things about Bellies, concentrated and refined to produce a really excellent, thoughtful story. The book is dual perspective between Max, a 30 something transwoman and Vincent, a corporate lawyer. They meet on a dating app, and their relationship causes them both to consider more about what the next stage of life looks like for them, their relationship with heterosexuality and the complexities of forgiveness and love. Max, in her chapters, let’s us in on her life and the way she struggles to see her heterosexual friends reach traditional ‘life milestones’ now she’s in her 30s, while Vincent’s chapters are about his gap year as a 19 year old, and the events that took place that shape his life and friendship with Fred.
One thing Nicola does incredibly well is writing complex and engaging characters and relationships. Max struggles with her relationship with her parents, and her brother Jamie and herself have different ways with dealing with their childhood and operating as a family now that they are no longer children. I really liked Jamie’s character and thought his story raised interesting discussions about childhood, anger and hope for things to be better.
A large theme of the book is about forgiveness. How do you know if you should forgive someone? Do people change? I found these concepts engaging, and felt like Nicola intertwined philosophical questions seamlessly into the characters very normal and relatable lives. Perhaps some side stories and plots weren’t as developed as the reader wanted - you don’t get firm endings or solutions - but isn’t that life? The side plots made the story engaging and fast paced, and felt necessary while also having a very strong overall plot and story arc.
Anyways, I guess u could say that this book absolutely did not disappoint me ;)) Disappint me publishes January 2025 and thank u X for this proof!
One thing Nicola does incredibly well is writing complex and engaging characters and relationships. Max struggles with her relationship with her parents, and her brother Jamie and herself have different ways with dealing with their childhood and operating as a family now that they are no longer children. I really liked Jamie’s character and thought his story raised interesting discussions about childhood, anger and hope for things to be better.
A large theme of the book is about forgiveness. How do you know if you should forgive someone? Do people change? I found these concepts engaging, and felt like Nicola intertwined philosophical questions seamlessly into the characters very normal and relatable lives. Perhaps some side stories and plots weren’t as developed as the reader wanted - you don’t get firm endings or solutions - but isn’t that life? The side plots made the story engaging and fast paced, and felt necessary while also having a very strong overall plot and story arc.
Anyways, I guess u could say that this book absolutely did not disappoint me ;)) Disappint me publishes January 2025 and thank u X for this proof!
January 21, 2025
4.5 stars!!
This is the first book I’ve read by this author! At first, I wasn’t sure if the writing style was for me, but I kept reading and I’m glad I did! The book was so atmospheric with a sense of foreboding! I couldn’t put it down!
I loved Max and Vincent, and all of the secondary characters, especially Simone!! She was a friend that would be by your side through it all!
This book reminded me that nobody is perfect, we all make mistakes, we grow from them, and we are never exactly the same as we were when we made the mistake, because we evolve! 💖
FAV QUOTE:
“No person is fewer than two things.”
Thank you to Net Galley, the Publisher, and the Author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
This is the first book I’ve read by this author! At first, I wasn’t sure if the writing style was for me, but I kept reading and I’m glad I did! The book was so atmospheric with a sense of foreboding! I couldn’t put it down!
I loved Max and Vincent, and all of the secondary characters, especially Simone!! She was a friend that would be by your side through it all!
This book reminded me that nobody is perfect, we all make mistakes, we grow from them, and we are never exactly the same as we were when we made the mistake, because we evolve! 💖
FAV QUOTE:
“No person is fewer than two things.”
Thank you to Net Galley, the Publisher, and the Author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
January 14, 2025
I received an ARC for this book from NetGalley for free.
Max, a trans woman, enters into a heteronormative relationship with a straight man, and we follow their relationship as she struggles with social expectations and what does heteronormative relationship mean for her queer identity.
This was one of those books that I had to space myself with, because I was loving it so much that I didn't want it to end. The characters were very likable and at times borderline pretentious. Exactly how I want my characters! I found this so funny, heartfelt and extremely human.
Will definitely be checking out the authors other work in the future as well!
Max, a trans woman, enters into a heteronormative relationship with a straight man, and we follow their relationship as she struggles with social expectations and what does heteronormative relationship mean for her queer identity.
This was one of those books that I had to space myself with, because I was loving it so much that I didn't want it to end. The characters were very likable and at times borderline pretentious. Exactly how I want my characters! I found this so funny, heartfelt and extremely human.
Will definitely be checking out the authors other work in the future as well!
December 4, 2024
This book delivered everything I wanted and more. Bellies walked so Disappoint Me could run. I was so deeply moved by Max and Vincent and their innate humanness and all that comes with growing older. This story was so imperfect it was perfect.. 10/10
Thank you Netgally for the advanced ebook!
Thank you Netgally for the advanced ebook!
January 23, 2025
This was INCREDIBLE! It's only January, but I'm predicting this is going to be one of my favourite books of the year
Disappoint Me is a beautifully nuanced tale about identity and relationships. The book centres around Max - a poet and lawyer who is trying to navigate this dual identity of being a writer while also impersonating an AI in her work as a lawyer, as well as being a trans woman in today's world and relationship scene - and Vincent, a corporate lawyer and Max's boyfriend. The book is told in a dual timeline and pov, with Max's pov in the present and Vincent's about ten years prior, during his gap year in Thailand.
I loved this book! Nicola Dinan writes with such depth, and this story offers an incredibly nuanced view of humans as flawed but real individuals. It explores our limits as to what we can forgive and how much/if we can change.
Thank you so much to Doubleday UK for the proof and also to NetGalley for the e-ARC!
Disappoint Me is a beautifully nuanced tale about identity and relationships. The book centres around Max - a poet and lawyer who is trying to navigate this dual identity of being a writer while also impersonating an AI in her work as a lawyer, as well as being a trans woman in today's world and relationship scene - and Vincent, a corporate lawyer and Max's boyfriend. The book is told in a dual timeline and pov, with Max's pov in the present and Vincent's about ten years prior, during his gap year in Thailand.
I loved this book! Nicola Dinan writes with such depth, and this story offers an incredibly nuanced view of humans as flawed but real individuals. It explores our limits as to what we can forgive and how much/if we can change.
Thank you so much to Doubleday UK for the proof and also to NetGalley for the e-ARC!
September 7, 2024
Ostensibly about a trans woman trying out heterosexuality, and what that would look like, although it’s really more about turning 30 and the way your life becomes more serious and you need to consider your future more concretely. Obvs it being about an unfulfilled transsexual living in Hackney and going through her Saturn return I felt victimised, distraught, horrified, although I actually didn’t really connect with her emotions and observations throughout. I felt like Max the main character was so serious and actually quite nasty, particularly in the first half. No offence but literally cheer up love it might never happen!!
The overall story about straight peoples lives really crystallising around this age while you’re still floating about and improvising made me feel worried about the future and the present and there wasn’t really a silver lining or resolution. It almost makes traditional heterosexuality feel like quite a nice insulating institution against the uncertainty and insecurity of being queer and trying to carve out a life for yourself which aligns with your values. She kind of makes her peace with the heterosexual world and decides to try to live a life that she wants within it despite having to make compromises and adjustments in order to do so, but she doesn’t really change anything about the world around her and to me it feels like a limp surrender to the forces of adulthood. Can’t wait to turn 31!
I kind of resented the authors philosophical intrusions on random stuff (isn’t it worrying that sustainability is a trend?) There are some wild af plot twists which kind of jar with the meditative, meandering tone generally. I don’t think this one is for the real girlies as it’s not camp enough but I imagine metropolitan men enjoying it very earnestly and #respectfully.
The overall story about straight peoples lives really crystallising around this age while you’re still floating about and improvising made me feel worried about the future and the present and there wasn’t really a silver lining or resolution. It almost makes traditional heterosexuality feel like quite a nice insulating institution against the uncertainty and insecurity of being queer and trying to carve out a life for yourself which aligns with your values. She kind of makes her peace with the heterosexual world and decides to try to live a life that she wants within it despite having to make compromises and adjustments in order to do so, but she doesn’t really change anything about the world around her and to me it feels like a limp surrender to the forces of adulthood. Can’t wait to turn 31!
I kind of resented the authors philosophical intrusions on random stuff (isn’t it worrying that sustainability is a trend?) There are some wild af plot twists which kind of jar with the meditative, meandering tone generally. I don’t think this one is for the real girlies as it’s not camp enough but I imagine metropolitan men enjoying it very earnestly and #respectfully.
November 3, 2024
Disappoint Me is a novel about relationships and growing up, as a thirty year old trans woman meets a new guy and navigates a more heteronormative life. Max works as a lawyer for a tech company, doing what their AI tool actually can't, and after a New Year's party ends with her falling down some stairs, she's looking for more stability. She meets Vincent, a corporate lawyer who is sweet and caring, even if a lot of his life feels unlike Max's. Looming is Max's friend's wedding, in which she's a bridesmaid, but a health scare and a secret from Vincent's past push that to the background, and Max must face up to what her future might actually hold.
Having loved Bellies, I was excited to read Dinan's next book, and Disappoint Me has a lot of similarities, focusing on characters' emotions and relationships, and navigating acting in ways that are or aren't see as 'normal'. In her second novel, Dinan focuses on ideas of where to go next, what happens after. The protagonist, Max, is thirty and watches as people suddenly start focusing on weddings and babies, or being obsessed with their jobs as an alternative. The book considers what kind of future there might be, especially for a heterosexual trans woman whose job doesn't challenge her and whose future as a poet didn't seem to go anywhere. There's a sense of trying out a heteronormative life, with some hilarious touches like that her boyfriend Vincent loves bringing up that he's read Detransition, Baby whenever talk turns to parenting, and this novel in general does feel like it follows on not only from Dinan's debut but other talked-about trans literary fiction like Detransition, Baby, exploring a world in which cis straight people have also read these novels.
Given the title, I did start fearing partway through that Disappoint Me's ending was going to be too bleak, but actually it is more ambivalent and purposefully ambiguous, showing the difficulty in seeing anything as an ending when the world always keeps going regardless. There's a lot of things that are thrown up in the novel and don't really get resolved, but again, as the book is trying to capture the fact that life keeps going on, and what that means when you're trying to work out your own life, this feels purposeful. The characters are messy, but as the ending tries to highlight, people aren't perfect and you can still love people when they mess up, and part of getting older is realising this.
Having loved Bellies, I was excited to read Dinan's next book, and Disappoint Me has a lot of similarities, focusing on characters' emotions and relationships, and navigating acting in ways that are or aren't see as 'normal'. In her second novel, Dinan focuses on ideas of where to go next, what happens after. The protagonist, Max, is thirty and watches as people suddenly start focusing on weddings and babies, or being obsessed with their jobs as an alternative. The book considers what kind of future there might be, especially for a heterosexual trans woman whose job doesn't challenge her and whose future as a poet didn't seem to go anywhere. There's a sense of trying out a heteronormative life, with some hilarious touches like that her boyfriend Vincent loves bringing up that he's read Detransition, Baby whenever talk turns to parenting, and this novel in general does feel like it follows on not only from Dinan's debut but other talked-about trans literary fiction like Detransition, Baby, exploring a world in which cis straight people have also read these novels.
Given the title, I did start fearing partway through that Disappoint Me's ending was going to be too bleak, but actually it is more ambivalent and purposefully ambiguous, showing the difficulty in seeing anything as an ending when the world always keeps going regardless. There's a lot of things that are thrown up in the novel and don't really get resolved, but again, as the book is trying to capture the fact that life keeps going on, and what that means when you're trying to work out your own life, this feels purposeful. The characters are messy, but as the ending tries to highlight, people aren't perfect and you can still love people when they mess up, and part of getting older is realising this.
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January 22, 2025I can’t begin this review without saying how absolutely excited I was to read Nicola Dinan’s second book after absolutely loving her debut Bellies. Of course I was curious if it will live up to the expectations and if maybe I have changed as a reader, maybe there was some special magic in the debut novel. Well, there was absolutely no reason to worry, Disappoint Me is incredible and has everything I loved about Bellies and more. Dinan’s writing is captivating in a very special way in which it feels very modern, the voices are very authentic, characters just jump out of the pages but it’s also beautiful and poignant where it counts. Particularly dialogues feel very natural, exactly how people talk and interact with all the nuances of real people speaking. What I found to be a really nice surprise was how much humour there is in Disappoint Me. It is so snappy, observant and spot on, both in dialogue and character’s internal monologue. All of that despite the subject matter getting quite difficult half way through but being handled so gracefully. There are many references to other books, some of them cracking me up like some people’s sudden “wokeness” after reading Detransition, Baby. I love it when books are aware of culture and references like that. There is so much more to praise about Nikola Dinan’s novels and I have a feeling her work will go down in history of literature as some of the best portrayals of trans lives around 2020s.
Thank you to Random House UK and NetGalley for the eARC!
Thank you to Random House UK and NetGalley for the eARC!
November 28, 2024
This was my first from Nicola Dinan and I really liked it. The writing was witty and entertaining. The characters were dynamic and different from one another which made the reading experience much more interesting. Books like this tend to be hit or miss for me, a girl lost in love and life and has that "messy girl" stumbling through life type of story, but this book was a real hit and I think it has everything to do with Dinan's writing style. I really enjoyed it from the first to the last page. I think the book was the right length because I was left satisfied after reading the story and didn't feel like it dragged on too long, something that also causes me to feel wary about this genre from time to time. This book overall was a great read that I greatly enjoyed during my holiday travels and highly recommend it for anyone looking for a good literary/contemporary book.
***Thank you you Netgalley and Dial Press for sending me an E-ARC in exchange for a review***
***Thank you you Netgalley and Dial Press for sending me an E-ARC in exchange for a review***
September 23, 2024
If you read Bellies by Nicola Dinan, you know she has a knack for gorgeous writing, dissecting difficult themes and developing incredibly complex characters. You get all that in this new release too.
Yes it is about experiences of trans and queer people, but also about complexity of humans and relationships. How our culture and identity shape us. How our past mistakes and anxiety for future shape us. How they all affect our relationships and communication. The characters are all deeply flawed and there is a lot of miscommunication despite love between them. Everything gets messy. In a relatable way though.
I must admit I prefer Bellies as there was more warmth and hope and I connected with the main characters better. But Disappoint Me is great in its own ways. I am looking forward to reading more by Nicola Dinan in the future!
4-4.5 🌟
Coming in 2025!
Yes it is about experiences of trans and queer people, but also about complexity of humans and relationships. How our culture and identity shape us. How our past mistakes and anxiety for future shape us. How they all affect our relationships and communication. The characters are all deeply flawed and there is a lot of miscommunication despite love between them. Everything gets messy. In a relatable way though.
I must admit I prefer Bellies as there was more warmth and hope and I connected with the main characters better. But Disappoint Me is great in its own ways. I am looking forward to reading more by Nicola Dinan in the future!
4-4.5 🌟
Coming in 2025!
November 19, 2024
ARC Review!
first of all thank you so much for the opportunity of receiving an ARC <3
second the review, i cant lie in the beginning of this book i was so confused on what i was reading because it’s a lot of max’s thoughts being spoken aloud along with her thought process and it didn’t take me until a chapter or 2 later to understand. (so thankful for the dual pov to understand more of the story)
however, the writing itself was great & i love that the few main focuses here are forgiveness, growth, identity & relationships. nicola did a great job with situations & issues in the book not being fully solved and instead made a reference of “the world kept spinning” because that happens in life, it’s never a stand still no matter what you’re going though. i personally love that the characters in this novel are messy because it captures the amount of inner monologues they have before speaking, the thoughts they have that are running at miles per hour, it captures the growth aspect of this book well.
the book is a great read but i can definitely see the book not being for certain people & overall nicola’s writing is intriguing and makes me want to read more of her work in the near future :)
first of all thank you so much for the opportunity of receiving an ARC <3
second the review, i cant lie in the beginning of this book i was so confused on what i was reading because it’s a lot of max’s thoughts being spoken aloud along with her thought process and it didn’t take me until a chapter or 2 later to understand. (so thankful for the dual pov to understand more of the story)
however, the writing itself was great & i love that the few main focuses here are forgiveness, growth, identity & relationships. nicola did a great job with situations & issues in the book not being fully solved and instead made a reference of “the world kept spinning” because that happens in life, it’s never a stand still no matter what you’re going though. i personally love that the characters in this novel are messy because it captures the amount of inner monologues they have before speaking, the thoughts they have that are running at miles per hour, it captures the growth aspect of this book well.
the book is a great read but i can definitely see the book not being for certain people & overall nicola’s writing is intriguing and makes me want to read more of her work in the near future :)
December 5, 2024
Thank You Netgalley and The Dial Press for my Advanced Reader’s Copy!
Oh, my, God. This was such a delight to read. Touching, moving, heartbreaking, honest and so very real. Nicola writes from the heart and directly from the soul.
Disappoint Me is the story of a trans woman trying to navigate her life now that she’s 30 and a new relationship that feels promising. I think this is a fantastic read for anyone leaving their twenties and entering their thirties. A book for those of us who feel lost and are trying to make sense of the world. This book was hilarious as it was devastating, and I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy next year. Disappoint Me will hit bookstores May 27, 2025!
Oh, my, God. This was such a delight to read. Touching, moving, heartbreaking, honest and so very real. Nicola writes from the heart and directly from the soul.
Disappoint Me is the story of a trans woman trying to navigate her life now that she’s 30 and a new relationship that feels promising. I think this is a fantastic read for anyone leaving their twenties and entering their thirties. A book for those of us who feel lost and are trying to make sense of the world. This book was hilarious as it was devastating, and I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy next year. Disappoint Me will hit bookstores May 27, 2025!
January 22, 2025
Actual rating 4.5.
I could not put this one down! This is a sharp, insightful and emotional novel about a woman who decides to make some changes after a jolting accident - starting with a healthy new relationship with Vincent, who may seem too good to be true because he is…
This book explored so many important topics, of course first and foremost the experience of dating, working, and living as a trans woman, and the extra layer of complexity and emotional uncertainty that can create, but also what that means when it comes to things like starting a family. I adored Max and her razor sharp wit, and it opened my eyes to so many things I’ve never had to personally think about, which is one of the many reasons I love reading. There were heartbreaking moments (Alex 😭), but there were also these beautiful friendships, and moments of love and acceptance and soul baring which I adored - what an incredible writer Dinan is (and funny too!).
I could not put this one down! This is a sharp, insightful and emotional novel about a woman who decides to make some changes after a jolting accident - starting with a healthy new relationship with Vincent, who may seem too good to be true because he is…
This book explored so many important topics, of course first and foremost the experience of dating, working, and living as a trans woman, and the extra layer of complexity and emotional uncertainty that can create, but also what that means when it comes to things like starting a family. I adored Max and her razor sharp wit, and it opened my eyes to so many things I’ve never had to personally think about, which is one of the many reasons I love reading. There were heartbreaking moments (Alex 😭), but there were also these beautiful friendships, and moments of love and acceptance and soul baring which I adored - what an incredible writer Dinan is (and funny too!).
December 4, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
actual review to come later as it is 4am and i am delirious and disheveled from binging this and the range of emotions that came with it BUT in short, i will say that this was incredible and i urge you to get your hands on a copy when it releases. this is another arc that is making me very excited for the direction litfic will be taking in 2025. big thank you to the dial press and netgalley for the e-arc!
actual review to come later as it is 4am and i am delirious and disheveled from binging this and the range of emotions that came with it BUT in short, i will say that this was incredible and i urge you to get your hands on a copy when it releases. this is another arc that is making me very excited for the direction litfic will be taking in 2025. big thank you to the dial press and netgalley for the e-arc!
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December 10, 2024Actually finished this a while ago, but forgot to post it on here.
A strong follow up to Bellies that deals with societal pressure, complex relationships under late-stage capitalism, and the current landscape for dating. Enjoyed it.
A strong follow up to Bellies that deals with societal pressure, complex relationships under late-stage capitalism, and the current landscape for dating. Enjoyed it.
October 1, 2024
Simply perfect
November 19, 2024
I simply adore Nicola Dinan. Her writing is impeccable, darkly funny and expertly captures the range of what it means to be a person muddling through :’)
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